title: Selection of hospital quality indicators for public disclosure in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper introduces the QUALIFY instrument as an indicator assessment method used to select quality indicators suitable for public disclosure in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five hospital quality indicators previously approved in routine use were systematically tested for suitability in public disclosure. A multi-disciplinary expert team including patient representatives used the QUALIFY instrument to assess the methodological quality of these indicators in detailed respect to their purpose. The team applied 14 of the 20 QUALIFY criteria to each indicator, the minimum acceptance level for public reporting was determined in advance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty one indicators from eleven clinical conditions fulfilled all fourteen methodological criteria required for national reporting. They include eleven outcome and twenty process indicators.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QUALIFY proved to be a useful tool for selecting quality indicators suitable for public disclosure and thus contributes substantially to proper information on German hospital quality. It ensures high transparency in a very sensitive context to all stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: BQS Institut für Qualität und Patientensicherheit, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reiter
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geraedts
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jäckel
authors.forename: Burkhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Veit
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Döbler
mesh_terms: D022126:Access to Information; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000592:standards; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000592:standards; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000592:standards*